Thursday, Jul 16, 2009

7-16 The Second Coming

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Aging is not one of my favorite topics. I look forward to the day I see Jesus, I’m not looking forward to more aches, pains and deterioration. Ed’s voice is not as strong as it used to be. His walk is a bit feeble. His wife stays home more often due to sciatica pain. Ed’s been around a long time, at least by human standards. He remembers some of the good times and bad times of life, and of the church. There were some tough times at Pine Grove before my day. He was telling me his perspective of them. Church conflict is never a pleasant thing. People respond in ways you wouldn’t expect when put under such pressure. Some people just quit altogether… not a good thing, but I’ve met a number of them. Some become defensive and say things you’d never expect from a “godly man” or woman. Others change churches. What does God want us to do? Forgive one another just as God in Christ forgave us!

Today's Scripture reading is 1 Kings 2:26-46; Zechariah 2; Luke 11:1-28
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com - Archives can be found at http://timewithgod.podbean.com

Today’s thought comes from Matthew 24:3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?". 29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

The First Coming of Christ: Historical fact. Whatever you think of Jesus, few deny that he is a historical figure. The Second Coming of Christ: Prophetic hope! If Jesus said and did all the things that history records at His first coming, the second coming is a sure thing! What is the sign of his coming? It’s relatively simple. Jesus warned in Matthew 24:5 “many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” He also warned in Matthew 24:23 “if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it.” Right now, in Miami there is a man who claims He is Jesus. Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda says he is God. He has a 666 tattooed on his arm. What could be clearer? His brother, Carlos de Jesus Miranda says he is a phony. He is. But how do we know? Very simple. The sign of the real Jesus is that everyone will SEE Him “coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” There will be no guess work about this sign. “Look! Up in the sky! Descending on the clouds! It’s Jesus!” Every eye will see Him in every part of the world! Now this is something Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda has never done, “No way Jose!” Even if Jose could manage to do some amazing Star Wars special effects and mimic flying, the return of Christ is preceded by worldwide darkness: the sun, moon and stars flicker out! Just before Jesus comes, as if in dramatic pause, “look ma, no more daylight!” So how do people see Jesus? Because of the brightness of His glory! He doesn’t need sunlight, He produces His own! Here’s how it happens. Heaven will “open” and Jesus will emerge on a white horse. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on His head are many crowns. He is dressed in a blood red robe, and the armies in heaven, dressed in fine linen, white and clean, will be following Him on white horses. On His robe and on His thigh is written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:11-16). To top off this dramatic moment, on that day His feet will touch down on the Mount of Olives, and it will be split in half, From east to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south in a great earthquake! A river will spring up and flow from Jerusalem to the east and to the west! (Zechariah 14:4-5) Talk about drama. No need to be deceived. When Jesus returns, you’ll know it!

Dear Lord Jesus, come quickly. I pray that your people would not be deceived. I pray that we would realize that when You return and walk among us, that we will know, without a doubt, that it is You! We do adore you. We do pray that you will come and establish your kingdom. In the meantime, may I be found doing your will.

Come unto me all you who are weary and heavily burdened and I will give you rest.

7-14 The Second Coming

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